Sanchez: Trump surrendering control to Elon Musk 'threatens democracy'

Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) speaks on immigration at the U.S. Capitol on May 10, 2023. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-Calif.) expressed concern Monday over President Donald Trump's decision to grant Elon Musk significant control over federal agencies, including the Treasury Department's payment systems.

"President Trump's surrendering control of the government to Elon Musk is a direct attack on our democracy,” she said. “The richest man in the world should not have the power to manipulate the system further for his personal gain."

This development follows the establishment of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Musk, which has rapidly expanded its influence within the federal government. DOGE has taken assertive actions, such as locking U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) employees out of their Washington, D.C., headquarters and initiating efforts to dismantle the agency.

Musk has been openly critical of USAID, labeling it as a "criminal organization" and asserting that it is "evil." He has also claimed that DOGE is "rapidly shutting down these illegal payments" within the Treasury Department.

In response to these actions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has assumed the role of acting head of USAID, stating that the agency's programs often conflict with national strategies. This move has been met with significant opposition from Democratic lawmakers and humanitarian organizations, who argue that the closure of USAID endangers global humanitarian efforts.

President Trump has defended Musk's role, stating that Musk "can't do and won't do anything without our approval." However, concerns about potential conflicts of interest have been raised, given Musk's extensive business ventures that may intersect with federal regulations and contracts.

Sánchez emphasized the need for bipartisan action to address this issue, urging Republicans who value the rule of law and congressional oversight to join Democrats in opposing what she describes as an "unconstitutional overreach."

"The presidency is the most powerful position in the world, but a president with no congressional oversight is a king,” said Sanchez. “This is not a partisan fight – it’s a fight for the future of our democracy!"